Thursday,
" August 31, 2023 "
( This webpage originally created in April, 2015 )
The steam tanker " S.S. W.D. Anderson " was a World War II Liberty ship built by the Moore Shipbuilding Company, Oakland California, and completed in September, 1921.
The ship was Powered by Oil-fired steam, was 500 feet long and had a Gross Tonnage of 10,227 and Net Tonnage of 6,552 tons. It was built for the Southern Pacific Company and was first named the " Tamiahua ". It was purchased by the Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1936 and was renamed the " S.S. W.D. Anderson ".
On February 22, 1942, while enroute from Corpus Christi, Texas to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a load of crude oil, the unescorted and unarmed " W.D. Anderson " was torpedoed by " German U-504 " about 12 miles northeast of Jupiter Light, Florida.
The first explosion caused the ship to burst into flames and almost immediately a second explosion occured. " One of the crew members ( see below ), out of the ship's complement of 36, was able to jump overboard right after the first explosion ! ". He was the only survivor of this sinking.
" 8 " officers and " 27 "
crewmen were lost as the ship soon sank.
The ship Master/Captain of the " S.S. W.D. Anderson " was:
" Albert Benjamin Walters "
who went down with his ship !
The only survivor was:
" Frank Leonard Terry "
He serviced as a Wiper on the Ship!
The following below list was created in the memory of those who
" Gave Their All "
on the
" S.S. W.D. Anderson "
There are personal " Online Memorials " for each of these honored men that were created for them by using the " Find A Grave Website ". On the " Majority " of the online memorials you will see a small biography for each soldier which may include:
Parent's, Grandparent's & Sibling's Names,
where & when they were born,
where they grew up,
when & where they enlisted in the service,
the military unit they were part of,
" AND "
where and how they actually died during the war !
MM = Awarded the " Mariner's Medal "
( Awarded for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )
MM * = Awarded the " Combat Bar ( Ribbon ) "
( Awarded to those who served under combat conditions )
MM ** = Awarded the " Combat Star "
( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )
PMM = Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
( Awarded to Mariner's held as prisoners of war during World War II )
PH = Awarded the " Purple Heart "
( Awarded to soldiers & sailors for being Wounded and/or Killed in action )
Other Medals = Such as Good Conduct Medals, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals, American Defense Service Medals, etc. " Are Not " included in this listing.
 = Picture of person shown on online memorial.
 = Picture of tombstone shown on online memorial.
An " N/A " in the " Photo, Awards, or Notes Area " means that they are not available for that Mariner, Soldier or Sailor .....
Cenotaph = A memorial stone only ~ " OR " ~ Remains not recovered ~ " OR " ~ Interred somewhere unknown.
( Those letters shown in " Red " did not have names to list for this ship )
[ A ] -
[ B ] -
[ C ] -
[ D ] -
[ E ] -
[ F ] -
[ G ] -
[ H ] -
[ I ]
[ J ] -
[ K ] -
[ L ] -
[ M ] -
[ N ] -
[ O ] -
[ P ] -
[ Q ] -
[ R ]
[ S ] -
[ T ] -
[ U ] -
[ V ] -
[ W ] -
[ X ] -
[ Y ] -
[ Z ]
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Aguinaldo, Robert
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Steward | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Bachman, Frederick J.
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Carey, Halton Ralph
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A
" Family Link Included " |
Ordinary
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Frankford,
Delaware
" Click Here "
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Castro, Apolonio Ramos
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Cook | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Cotton, James Thomas, Jr.
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A
" Family Link Included " |
Radio
Officer | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Atlanta,
Georgia
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Cox, Jeff D.
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Fireman /
Watertender | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Alligator,
Mississippi
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Crawford, Joseph Wilbur, Jr.
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A
" Family Link Included " |
Wiper | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Muncy,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Cullinan, Thomas
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Deck
Maintenance
Man | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Dyczkowski, John Leon
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Oiler |
" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Last Names starting with
" E "
" There Were None Lost ! " |
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Ferry, Bernard John
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Deck
Maintenance
Man | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Lemont,
Illinois
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Franklin, Billie Joseph
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included " |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Alabama
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
Cornelius
Chapel
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Buhl,
Alabama
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Glacklin, John Joseph
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Third
Mate | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Heir, Alfred William
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Wiper | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Lesterville,
Missouri
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Iseminger, Alva John
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Deck
Maintenance
Man | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Upper Darby,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Jensen, Neil
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ |
Fireman /
Watertender | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Camden,
New Jersey
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Kabat, Cyril
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A
" Family Link Included " |
Deck
Maintenance
Man | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Lemont,
Illinois
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Kalima, William Kole
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Messman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Atlantic City,
New Jersey
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Kline, Harvey William
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included " |
Chief Mate | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
Zion
Gosherts
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Lebanon,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Lamb, Frederick Edward
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Wilmington,
North Carolina
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Liles, Burwell Earnest
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A
" Family Link Included " |
Third
Engineer | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Madelaine, Leon
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
New York City,
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Marsh, Walter Currell
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included " |
Fireman /
Watertender | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Virginia
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
Morattico
Baptist
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Kilmarnock,
Virginia
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Matinog, Alexandro
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Messman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
McDonald, Russell Lee
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Ordinary
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Mehl, William John
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Ordinary
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Meisner, Julian Robert
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Chief
Engineer | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Yeadon,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Melin, Carl Albert
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ |
Second
Engineer | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Molchan, Joseph Peter
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Unity,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Last Names starting with
" N " ~ " O " ~ " P " and " Q "
" There Were None Lost ! " |
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Robbins, Raymond Lawson
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included " |
Oiler | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Virginia
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
White Stone
UM Church
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
White Stone,
Virginia
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Robertson, John Clifton
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Oiler | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Palmer,
Virginia
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Samuelson, Carl Siegfried
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
First
Engineer | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Sanderson, David Robert
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Pumpman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Upper Darby,
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Smith, Charles Eugene
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~ N/A |
Able-Bodied
Seaman | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Newton,
North Carolina
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Stitsel, Mahlon Erman
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included "
His brother,
" Elvin Edward Stitsel "
also died in WW II ! |
Second
Mate | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
Riverside
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Defiance,
Ohio
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Last Names starting with
" T " ~ " U " and " V "
" There Were None Lost ! " |
| Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name
Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos
Notes
( If Available ) |
Military
Rank
|
Branch
of Service |
Place
Of Residence
~ ~ ~
Cause Of
Passing
|
Cemetery
/
Memorial |
For Online
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Click
Below |
Walters, Albert Benjamin, Jr.
MM ** ~ Off Florida ~
" Family Link Included " |
Master /
Captain | " Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
U.S.
Merchant
Marine |
Kansas
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action |
Milford
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Milford,
Kansas
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph |
~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
February 22,
1942
|
Last Names starting with
" X " ~ " Y " and " Z "
" There Were None Lost ! " |
Email any questions or comments to:
Russ Pickett
( russpickde@comcast.net )
|
